Duché de Coeur: Opera Meets Couture Gala

TatianaDokuchic Varriale & Baharat Atlas

Arriving at the Opera Meets Couture Gala

photo by Ana

Wasn't that a party!

Hosted by the Duché de Coeur's Academie Royale de Musique and Maniera LLC, the First Annual Opera Meets Couture Fashion Show and Gala was a smashing success.  I don't think I've ever seen so many well turned out avatars enjoying themselves in one place before.

Jennie Devin custom designed the setting and it was "jaw dropping".  It was the first time any of those new-fangled automobiles were ever seen on my (usually) 18th century region of Provence Coeur ;)

Tamra Hayden started the evening with her stunning performance.  Truly one of the best things about SL is being able to attend a live-stream music event like this.

A selection of gowns from some of Second Life®‘s top designers were modelled and then sold with partial proceeds being donated to help support the Academie’s education and outreach efforts.

The gala was a blast with DJ Shintoryu Allen spinning the tunes and people staying to dance the night away.

My "red carpet worthy" dress by BlakOpal Designs.

For more great pics of the event taken by Ana see 1st Annual Opera Meets Couture Gala April 2012

enChanted Easter Notes

Easter has given me an excuse to enjoy some "illumination" which I'm delighted to share with you. 

These pages are from a 17th century Antiphonary created by the "ateliers de l'hôtel des Invalides", Paris. 

Think of soothing Gregorian chants while you look at them; relax & immerse yourself in the marvelous details.

♪♪ Happy Easter ~ Happy Spring ♪♪

Petit Trianon: French Garden Parterre SL

Petit Trianon: French Garden Parterre SL (Bumblebee view)

An early spring has given me the gift of renewed energy & inspiration which I am using to tackle my favourite Second Life (SL) endeavour, the Petit Trianon. This project has languished for far too long but improvements to SL building tools were just what was needed to help get it off of the ground again.  So what did I do?  I pulled the whole place apart and started again!!

Though this has resulted in more than a few holes in the walls & floors (if you come for a visit make sure to watch your step) I'm very excited about the progress I have been making.  I'm currently working on the exterior facades and if you know anything about the Petit Trianon it's that each side of the building has its own unique character.

The side facing the French Garden is probably the most beautiful and the most complex with its impressive terrace and a parterre that provides an introduction to Le Jardin Français home to the French Pavilion.  It's very interesting to note that beneath  the terrace is a network of passageways which were used to keep the servants out of sight and facilitate their movement from the outdoors to the kitchen and preparation areas of the Ground Floor.  For some reason those passageways were always my particular bête noire when building so I'm very relieved to have them almost finished.

Sadly, over the years the parterre has disappeared from the Petit Trianon in RL but I was fortunate enough to have some old plans and photos showing the layout.  As you can see, I've taken a few liberties with my SL version including adding a small water feature and what I think is some much needed shade.

My first planting of the garden was definitely a treat that I have been looking forward to for a very long time.  It turned out to be very "spring" inspired which seemed rather fitting with both the season and my current mood.

Please feel free to drop by and enjoy the French Garden Parterre.  Just remember that if you venture into the chateau you're going to have to watch out for those gaps in the floorboards!!

Petit Trianon: Parterre Instant Spring Garden

This delightful spring garden is perfect for avid and novice gardeners alike.

Based on the original design for the  parterre of the Petit Trianon , the formal lines of the four planting beds and small, clipped hedge borders are accentuated by brightly coloured masses of flowers that sway gentle in the breeze.  The full arrangement is a symmetrical pattern with the two beds of the right side mirroring the two beds of the left.

It sets up with the touch of a rez box for instant visual impact.  All parts are mod/copy so that you can rearrange and make changes to your heart's content.  Every piece has been optimized to be prim conscious.
 

Ange-Jacques Gabriel: Louis XV's Premier Architect

Ange-Jacques Gabriel by Jean-Baptiste Greuze

Ange-Jacques Gabriel (October 23, 1698 – January 4, 1782) was born into a family of great architects, succeeding his father, Jacques Gabriel, as the premier architect of France in 1742. 

During his tenure he oversaw the transition from the ornate Rococo period to the order & simplicity of Neoclassicism driven by the belief that progress depends upon reason and discipline.

His love of symmetry and classical proportion is reflected in many of his creations from the minute French Pavilion (completed 1750) to the enormous Château de Versailles (including extensive palace renovations starting in 1735 & the addition of the Royal Opera 1769-1770).

For me, one of the many delights of re-creating his buildings are discovering the false doors which have been placed "just so" to maintain the symmetrical appearance of a room.  Equally fascinating are the "secret" doors that are blended into the walls for the same reason. I stumbled upon this technique for the first time while constructing  The Billard Room of the Petit Trianon.

The Château de Compiègne seen from the garden (Wikipedia)

His major works included the Château de Compiègne (1750+) and a number of hôtels particuliers in the Place de la Concorde.

The Petit Trianon (1762-1768) is perhaps his most celebrated achievement.

Académie Royale de Musique: November 2011

The Académie Royale de Musique in conjunction with the Duché de Coeur is pleased to present the following events for November 2011. 

November 06: Elvera Lerner with a Julie Andrews Tribute
November 06: SaraMarie Philly
November 06: Adevina Citron
November 06: WaltKeys Faith

November 11: Adevina Citron
November 11: Chris Fredrikkson

November 12: Lauren Ilo
November 12: The Balladeer
November 12: Tukso Okey

November 13: Benski Korhonen

November 20: Lauren Ilo

November 26: SaraMarie Philly
November 26: Lauren Ilo
November 26: The Balladeer
November 26: Kitty Zeddmore
November 26: Benski Korhonen

November 27: Yuki Hutchinson

Please follow the links for detailed information including times & SL® locations

Petit Trianon: The French Pavilion SL

The French Pavilion - My SL Virtual Rendition

As recounted in my post regarding the real life (RL) version, (Petit Trianon: The French Pavilion RL) the French Pavilion (le pavillon français) was designed by the Louis XV’s chief architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel at the instigation of Madame Pompadour. This miniature palace was intended as a summer gaming room with an attached salon frais or summer dining room. Thirty years later, Marie Antoinette would also use it for private concerts given by lantern light.

My virtual re-creation of the French Pavilion for Second Life ® was a true labour of love. It took me almost three months to painstakingly create the textures and to piece together all of those 45 degree angled walls!